Boot or shoe



(No Model.)

L. I. SHRADER.

BOOT 0R SHOE. No. 380,408. PatentedApr. S, 1888.

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LOUIS I. SHRADEB, OF NEW ALBANY, INDIANA.

BOOT OR SHOE..

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 380,408, dated April 3, 1888.

Application filed April 22, 1886.

To a@ whom it 'may concern..-

.Iie 1t known that I, Louis I. SHRADER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New Albany, in the county of Floyd and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Boots or Shoes, of which the following is a specication.

My invention relates to boots or shoes, and has for its object to improve the construction thereof, so as to render their manufacture cheaper, and without interfering with the wear of the boot or shoe. My invention consists in a boot or shoe having a counter of stiff material extending from the sides or shank around the heel, and secured at its upper edges to the lower edge of the quarter, which is cut away, thus enabling the counter to serve as a portion of the quarter and thereby saving stock and rendering the construction of the boot or shoe cheaper, substantially as more particularly pointed out hereinafter.

lReferring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of a shoe embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a View illustrating the construction and arrangement pf the counter and other portions of the quan' The quarter C C of the boot or shoe may be made of one or two pieces, and of any shape required by the style of the article; but instead of extending the quarter to the sole of the shoe, as is usual, and attaching thereto a stiff counter, either inside or outside, the quarter is cut away upon a line, as at X, and the edge of the counter D isjoined directly to the lower portions of the quarter, and, in fact, constitutes a part thereof. This counter is preferably made of stiff material, as soleleather or equivalent, and is joined to the lower edges of the cutaway quarter, and the ends of the counter extend forward and are joined to the rear portions of the vamp E.

I have shown the counter as being of a substantially triangular shape; but it is evident that the shape may be varied to suit the style of the boot or shoe, and though I prefer to have it extend well forward to join the vamp, as shown, it may in some styles be made of a Serial No. 199,837. (No model.)

different configuration Without departing from my invention.

The counter is finished on the outside to correspond with the remaining port-ion of the quarter; or it may be enameled or otherwise dressed, so as to retain a permanent polish.

It is evident from the above that much material is saved in the cutting of the counterpieces, not only from the fact that they contain much less material in actual superiices, but also from the fact that they are of such a shape that they can fit more closely together, and the leather can be out with much less Waste of material. The counter-piece, though made of stiff heavy material, is also of a configuration to be cut at an advantage from large pieces of leather without material waste, or it may be cut from small pieces. In any event the amount of upper-leather that usually covers the counter-piece is saved without any disadvantage to the shoe, and by extending the counter well forward and joining the portions w to the rear edges of the vamp E it tends to support and stiffenthe upper and to maire the shoe hold its shape and fit better. IThe boot or shoe thus constructed presents no thin upper-leather to wear off around the heel, has no seam down the back liable to rip, and the counter, being secured to and forming a part of the quarter, is not liable to bend or turn over,while above the quarter the more iiexible upper-leather provides the proper elasticity or flexibility to prevent interference with walking.

It is evident my invention may be applied to many and various styles and sizes of shoes from infants to mens and womens.

Without limiting myself to the precise construction and arrangement of parts shown, I claiml. The combination, in a shoe, of the quarters cut away at the lowcr'portions adjacent to the heel, as set forth, and a counter-piece of stiff sole-leather or other stiff material filling the space thus cut away and connected to both quarters and vamp, and constituting a rigid support at the sides of the heel, whereby the usual counter-stiffener is dispensed with, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, in a shoe, of the quarters out away at the lower part, as set forth, the Vamp, and :L counter-piece of stiff material having inclined edges secured tothe edges 5 of the quarters, and forward edges or ends secured to the edges of the vamp, substantially as set forth.

Intestmony whereof I have signed my name LOUIS I. SHRADER.

Witnesses:

J. U. HALL, A. D. BREWER. 

